How to Plan a Wedding as an Introvert
If the thought of being the center of attention all day makes your stomach flip, you’re not alone. Planning a wedding as an introvert can feel like a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. There are a million different ways to personalize your wedding.
With a few thoughtful adjustments during your planning process, you can create a peaceful wedding celebration that feels true to you. For many shy or introverted brides, that means reducing the stress of constant social interaction or redirecting the spotlight.
Here are some wedding day tips for the shy bride that will help you plan a wedding that honors your personality, keeps you comfortable, and still makes room for plenty of meaningful moments.
6 Wedding Day Tips for Introverts
1. Take Some Time for Yourself (& Your Spouse!)
No matter how small your wedding is, it’s a busy day. There are people to organize, things to set up, and, not to mention, the process of getting ready. There will be all kinds of demands for your attention, so to keep from getting overwhelmed or draining your social battery, try to set aside time throughout the day for some alone time.
Maybe that means a quick meditation or quiet breakfast in the morning before getting ready, or a walk around the neighborhood. It could even just be five minutes you set aside for some peace and quiet to scroll on your phone. Regardless of what you choose to do, it’s important for introverts to have that time to recuperate and to mentally prepare themselves for all the excitement.
It’s also a great opportunity to make sure you get some one-on-one time with your partner! If you’re not careful, weddings can get pretty hectic. Before you know it, the whole thing is in full swing, and you’ve yet to have a meaningful moment with your partner.
So, when organizing some alone time, set some aside to spend with your partner. Maybe have a private dinner for you both rather than eating with everyone, take ten minutes together after the ceremony before you enter the reception, or sneak away for sunset photos. It’ll give you a break from all the prying eyes, and let you relish the fact that you’re now married to the love of your life.
2. Have a Smaller Wedding
A big part of wedding planning is determining who to invite, and it can get overwhelming for even the most extroverted bride. While it’s totally possible to be an introvert and still want a large wedding with all your friends and family, it’s also okay to keep things small!
If a huge party doesn’t feel right for you, you can have a small, private wedding, keep the guest list short, or even elope. That way, the whole thing will feel more intimate and manageable. Ever heard of micro weddings? That’s where only your innermost circle is present as guests, usually fewer than 50 people total. Plus, think of all the money you’ll save.
Consider keeping your wedding party as small as well. While a big group of bridesmaids or groomsmen can be fun, and it’s a great way to shout-out the people who’ve stood by you, it also means more people to manage along the way and wrangle the day-of. Keeping the wedding party intimate can prevent you from feeling overwhelmed before the wedding day even starts.
3. Don’t Walk Down the Aisle Alone
For brides especially, the walk down the aisle can be one of the more stressful aspects of the wedding day. Everyone’s watching, and you’re not only trying your best not to trip, but to enjoy the moment.
There are many different approaches to make that aisle feel a little less long. Brides are typically accompanied by their fathers, but grooms often walk alone. Having someone else walk with you can take some pressure off. Walk with one or both parents, escort a grandparent, strut with a sibling, or maybe even walk down with your partner! Having your loved ones by your side for support can add so much confidence.
4. Read Your Vows in Private
While personal vows can be a beautiful way for you and your partner to declare just how deep your love for each other goes, they can also be extremely intimate. If you don’t want an audience while you bare your soul to your partner, that’s perfectly okay.
But at the same time, personal vows can be very meaningful, and you shouldn’t have to skip them if you don’t want to. Instead, set aside a time with your partner before the ceremony or even the day of the wedding to share your vows. That way, you can still get that moment (and hear how much your spouse cares for you) without any prying eyes.
5. Skip the Reception Grand Entrance
You’ve made it through the ceremony despite all those eyes on you. Well done! But that’s only half the battle.
Traditionally, there’s a cocktail hour after the ceremony while the couple goes off to take photos (which is a great opportunity for a breather and some alone time). Afterwards, many couples will make a big, dramatic entrance back into the reception. If the thought of that attention being on you again makes you squirm, skip it!
Instead of having your DJ announce you and your spouse after taking photos, you can slip into the crowd and mingle without any fanfare. That way, you can connect with your loved ones in smaller groups or one-on-one without drawing too much attention.
6. Plan Activities Outside of Dancing
While some introverts can definitely bust a move, having everyone watch while you do it is a lot of pressure. If hitting the dance floor is not your thing, you can plan other activities to keep the party going!
Board games are always a safe bet, and if your reception is outdoors, you can play lawn games like cornhole or horseshoes. Or, maybe even have a bonfire! The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.
If you still want to dance, you can always tailor the plans to make it more enjoyable. For the first dance or the parent/child dance, consider starting the song with your partner, and after about 30 seconds to a minute, inviting other couples to join you. That way, you still get that special moment while relieving some pressure.
At the end of the day, the most important thing to remember when planning a wedding as an introvert is that there are no rules. So, don’t do anything you’re not comfortable with. If there are wedding traditions you want to skip because they make you or your partner anxious, kick them to the curb! It’s your wedding, and everyone there loves you and is eager to celebrate you.
Do what feels right for you—it’s your day after all!
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